Some interesting species of Asterina from Guangdong, China

Fungal Diversity Some interesting species of Asterina from Guangdong, China Bin Song 1,2*, Tai-Hui Li 1,2 and Fu-Wu Xing 3 1 Guangdong Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Guangzhou 510070, Guangdong, China 2 Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangzhou 510070, Guangdong, China 3 South China Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica, Guangzhou 510650, Guangdong, China Song, B., Li, T.H. and Xing, F.W. (2004). Some interesting species of Asterina from Guangdong, China. Fungal Diversity 16: 157-166. Five species of the genus Asterina from Guangdong Province (China) are reported in this paper. Among them Asterina elaeocarpicola, A. garciniae, and A. nodosa are new to China, and Asterina tetracericola is described and illustrated as a new species. Key words: Asterina tetracericola, Asterinaceae, new species. Introduction We are studying the folicolous fungi deposited in the Herbarium of Guangdong Institute of Microbiology (Song et al., 2002, 2003a,b,c) and in this paper report on five Asterina species. Asterina Lév. was introduced for a group of obligate parasitic fungi on leaves of higher plants, which are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions (Doidge, 1942; Hansford, 1946; Müller and von Arx, 1962; Hosagoudar et al., 2001). Hansford (1946) established the Asterinaceae based on following characters: parasitic on leaves of plants; mycelium superficial, brown, forming an open network, with or without appressoria; ascomata superficial, thyriothecial, flattened, dimidiatescutate, orbicular or rounded, opening by a stellate fissure or crumbling of deliquescent cells at the apex. Kirk et al. (2001) acknowledged about 200 taxa, and Hosagoudar and Abraham (2000) list at least 578 species and varieties on various families of hosts. In China, Asterina species are mainly distributed to the south of the Yangtze River in subtropical or tropical regions with a warm and humid climate, and at least 35 species and varieties of the genus, including some new species, have been reported mostly from Guangdong and Yunnan Province, China (Ouyang et al., 1995, 1996; Song et al., 2002, 2003b,c). We have critically re-examined specimens and five species occurring in * Corresponding author: B. Song; e-mail: binsong@gdas.ac.cn 157

Guangdong, including one new species and three new records for China are reported in this paper. Taxonomy Asterina elaeocarpicola Hansf., Reinwardtia 3: 131. 1954. (Figs. 1-3) Colonies mostly hypophyllous, black, thin, arachnoid to nearly velvety, scattered, up to 8 mm diam., sometime confluent. Hyphae brown, sinuous, irregularly branching acutely or obtusely, loosely reticulate, cells mostly 15-35 3-4.5 µm. Appressoria unicellular, in alternate or unilateral arrangement, 1% opposite, spreading, mostly bent, cylindrical, entire, narrowed at apex, 7.2-17 3.5-5 µm. Ascomata scattered, black, globose to hemispherical, stellately dehisced at the centre, irregularly crenate to short tassels at the periphery, up to 120 µm diam., surface cells 2.5-3.8 µm wide. Ascospores brown, oblong, obtuse, 1-septate, constricted at septum, surface smooth, 20-27 9-12 µm. Material examined: CHINA, Heishiding Biosphere Reserve, Fengkai County, Guangdong Province, on leaves of Elaeocarpus nitentifolius Merr. & Chun (Elaeocarpaceae), 17 October 1992, Y.S. Ouyang and B. Song (HMIGD 34239, 32164). Notes: Asterina elaeocarpicola Hansf. was first described from Java (Hansford, 1954) as parasitic on Elaeocarpus punctatum, and is reported here for the first time from China. It is also known from India (Hosagoudar and Goos, 1996). So far, five taxa of Asterina occuring on members of the genus Elaeocarpus, namely Asterina borneensis Hansf., A. elaeocarpi Syd., A. elaeocarpi Syd. var. ovalis Kar & Ghosh, A. elaeocarpi-kobanmochi Yam. and A. elaeocarpicola Hansf. have been recorded from Borneo, China, India, Java, and the Philippines (Sydow, 1911; Hansford, 1954; Yamamoto, 1957; Kar and Ghosh, 1986). The main distinguishing characters of A. borneensis are that the ascospores are large (45-50 22-24 µm) with verruculose ornamentation. In A. elaeocarpi var. ovalis and A. elaeocarpi-kobanmochi appressoria are alternate or opposite, short and wide (7-11 3.9-7 µm for A. elaeocarpi var. ovalis, 7-10 4.5-6 µm for the A. elaeocarpi-kobanmochi). Asterina elaeocarpicola is also similar to A. elaeocarpi, but differs in having shorter and wide nearly lobed appressoria (8-11 6-8 µm), allowing easy distinction from A. elaeocarpicola. Asterina garciniae Hansf., Proceeding of the Linnean Society, London 158: 44. 1947. (Figs. 4-6) Colonies mostly epiphyllous, thin, black, arachnoid or nearly velvety, up to 6 mm diam., sometime confluent. Hyphae brown, nearly straight or sinuous, opposite or irregular branching acutely or obtusely, loosely or closely reticulate, cells mostly 15-35 3.5-5 µm. Appressoria unicellular, in alternate 158

Fungal Diversity Figs. 1-3. Asterina elaeocarpicola 1. Hyphae with appressoria. 2. Ascomata. 3. Ascospores. Bar = 25 µm. or unilateral arrangement, spreading, straight or bent, nearly globose or clavate, entire, 10-11.5 5.8-6.5 µm. Ascomata scattered to nearly aggregate, black, orbicular or hemispherical, stellately dehiscent at the centre, irregularly crenate to shortly tasseled at the periphery, up to 150 µm diam., surface cells 2.5-3.5 µm wide. Ascospores brown, oblong, 1-septate, obtuse with rounded ends, constricted at septum, surface smooth, 18.5-22.5 7.9-12 µm. Material examined: CHINA, Heishiding Biosphere Reserve, Fengkai County, Guangdong Provinice, on leaves of Garciniae oblongifolia Champ. (Guttiferae), 16 October 1992, Y.S. Ouyang and B. Song (HMIGD 34238). Notes: Asterina garciniae was first described by Hansford (1947) from India, as parasitic on Garcinia mangostanae, and is reported here for the first 159

Figs. 4-6. Asterina garciniae 4. Hyphae with appressoria. 5. Ascomata. 6. Ascospores. Bar = 25 µm. time from China. It is also similar to Asterina garciniicola Y.S. Ouyang et al. (1995), but differs from latter species in having larger ascospores (25-30 µm long and 14-18 µm wide) with verruculose ornamentation. Asterina nodosa Doidge, Bothalia 4: 335. 1942. (Figs. 7-9) Colonies hypophyllous, black, thin to nearly dense, arachnoid to nearly velvety, scattered, up to 15 mm diam., mostly confluent. Hyphae brown, sinuous to rather tortuous or geniculate, irregular branching acutely, loosely or densely reticulate, cells mostly 20-43 2.8-4.8 µm. Appressoria unicellular, in alternate or unilateral arrangement, mostly bent or curved, often irregular or obtusely nearly lobate, 7.5-13 5-9 µm. Ascomata nearly aggregate to scattered, black, orbicular or hemispherical, stellately dehiscent at the centre, 160

Fungal Diversity Figs. 7-9. Asterina nodosa 7. Hyphae with appressoria. 8. Ascomata. 9. Ascospores. Bar =25 µm. irregularly crenate to shortly tasseled at periphery, up to 220 µm diam., surface cells 2-3 µm wide. Ascospores brown, oblong-ellipsoid, 1-septate, obtuse with rounded ends, constricted or strongly constricted at septum, surface echinulate, 23-33 12-17 µm. Material examined: CHINA, Nankun Shan, Guangdong Province, on leaves of Ilex dasyphylla Merr. (Aquifoliaceae), 12 July 1987, Y.X. Hu (HMIGD 34382); Fengkai County, Guangdong Province, on leaves of Ilex ficoidea Hemsl. (Aquifoliaceae), 17 October 1992, B. Song and Y.S. Ouyang (HMIGD 34334). Notes: Asterina nodosa was described by Doidge (1942) from South Africa, as parasitic on Ilex mitis, and is reported here for the first time from China. This species was often associated with A. bottomleyae Doidge (1942) and A. hendersonii Doidge (1920) on the same leaves. It differs from A. 161

Figs. 10-12. Asterina tetracericola 10. Hyphae with appressoria. 11. Ascomata. 12. Ascospores. Bar = 25 µm. bottomleyae in having alternate or opposite appressoria with larger ascospores (33-39 µm long and 15-20 µm wide). Asterina nodosa differs from A. hendersonii in having smaller appressoria (5-7.5 5-6 µm), and smaller ascospores (11-15 µm long and 10-12.5 µm wide) with a smooth surface. Asterina tetracericola B. Song, T.H. Li & F.W. Xing, sp. nov. (Figs. 10-12) Coloniae epiphyllae, subdensae, atrae, arachnoideae vel subvelutinae, ad 3 mm diam. Hyphae atro-brunneae, sinuatae, opposite vel irregulariter acuteque vel wideque ramosae, laxe vel dense reticulatae, cellulis plerumque 28-35 3-4 µm. Appressoria unicellula, alternata vel unilatera, laxa, antrorsa, ovata vel subglobosa, angulosa vel lobata, 5.5-10 5.5-9 µm. Ascomata dispersa vel subaggregata, atra, orbiculata vel hemisphaeria, ad 130 µm diam., 162

Fungal Diversity stellate dehiscentia ad centrum, irregulariter margina crenata vel fimbriata, cells 3-4 µm lata. Ascosporae atro-brunneae, oblongae, 1-septatae, obtusae, constrictae, echinulatae, 20-23 8-10 µm. Etymology: tetracericola, in reference to the host species, Tetracera asiatica. Colonies epiphyllous, nearly dense, black, arachnoid to nearly velvety, up to 3 mm diam. Hyphae brown, sinuous, opposite or irregular branching acutely or obtusely, loosely to closely reticulate, cells mostly 28-35 3-4 µm. Appressoria unicellular, in alternate or unilateral arrangement, spreading, ovate to nearly globose, angulose to lobe, 5.5-10 5.5-9 µm. Ascomata scattered to nearly aggregate, black, orbicular to hemispherical, stellately dehiscent at the centre in maturity, irregularly crenate to shortly tasseled at periphery, up to 130 µm diam., surface cells 3-4 µm wide. Ascospores brown, oblong, 1-septate, obtuse, constricted at septum, surface echinulate, 20-23 8-10 µm. Material examined: CHINA, Dinghu Shan, Guangdong Province, on leaves of Tetracera asiatica (Lour.) Hoogl. (Dilleniaceae), December 1978, G.Z. Jiang (HMIGD 34158, holotype designated here). Notes: The new species is similar to Asterina tetracerae Syd. and Asterina scruposa Syd. var. longipoda Hughes. The main distinguishing characters of A. tetracerae are that the ascospores have a smooth surface (Sydow, 1931). The main distinguishing characters of A. scruposa var. longipoda are that the hyphae are larger (7-9 µm), and the appressoria are cylindrical (11-22 5-6 µm) (Hughes, 1952). Asterina yamamotoicola (Yam.) Hosagoudar & Abraham, Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 24: 569. 2000. (Figs. 13-15) Colonies epiphyllous, black, thin, arachnoid or nearly velvety, orbicular or irregular, up to 3 mm diam., sometime confluent. Hyphae brown, nearly straight or sinuous, opposite or alternate branching acutely or obtusely, loosely to closely reticulate, cells mostly 25-45 3-5 µm. Appressoria bicellular, in alternate or unilateral arrangement, spreading, mostly straight, 7.5-15 µm long; stalk cells cylindrical to cuneate, 2.5-5 µm long; head cells ovate or nearly globe, mostly 1-3-lobed, 5.5-10 5-8 µm. Ascomata scattered to nearly aggregate, black, orbicular or hemispherical, stellately dehiscent at the centre, irregularly crenate to shortly tasseled at periphery, up to 120 µm diam., surface cells 1.8-3.3 µm wide. Ascospores brown at ends, oblong, 1-septate, obtuse with rounded ends, constricted at septum, surface minor echinulate, 20-23 7.5-10 µm. Material examined: CHINA, Wuhua County, Guangdong Province, on leaves of Casearia villilimba Merr. (Samydaceae), September 1987, H. Hu (HMIGD 34165). Notes: Asterina caseariae Yam. was first described by Yamamoto (1957) from Taiwan (China), as parasitic on Casearia merrilli. This is hononym of 163

Figs. 13-15. Asterina yamamotoicola. 13. Hyphae with appressoria and ascomata. 14. Ascomata. 15. Ascospores. Bar = 25 µm. Asterina caseariae Hansford (1944) and Hosagoudar and Abraham (2000) renamed it Asterina yamamotoicola. This species is reported here for the first time from the Chinese mainland. This species is similar to A. caseariae Hansford (1944), but differs from latter in having opposite appressoria with smaller ascospores (16-20 8-9 µm). This species is also similar to A. caseariicola Hosagoudar and Goos (1996), but differs from latter in having 5% opposite appressoria, larger ascospores (18-22 11-13 µm) with a smooth surface. 164

Fungal Diversity Acknowledgements The project was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (no. 30370012), the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong (20000205; 020470), and the Natural Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars from Guangdong Academy of Sciences. We are deeply grateful to R.D. Goos of Department of Botany, University of Rhode Island (USA) for his various help. References Doidge, E.M. (1920). South African Microthyriaceae. Transactions of Royal Society of South Africa 8: 235-282. Doidge, E.M. (1942). A revision of the South Africa Microthyriaceae. Bothalia 4: 273-420. Hansford, C.G. (1944). Contributions towards the Fungas Flora Uganda, new records. Proceedings of the Linnean Society, London. 156: 102-124. Hansford, C.G. (1946). The foliicolous ascomycetes, their parasites and associated fungi. Mycological Papers 15: 1-240. Hansford, C.G. (1947). New or interesting tropical fungi I. Proceeding of the Linnean Society, London 158: 28-50. Hansford, C.G. (1954). Some Microthyriales and other fungi from Indonesia. Reinwardtia 3: 113-144. Hosagoudar, V.B. and Abraham, T.K. (2000). A list of Asterina Lev. species based on the literature. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 24: 557-587. Hosagoudar, V.B. and Goos, R.D. (1996). Some foliicolous fungi from Southern India. Mycotaxon 59: 149-166. Hosagoudar, V.B., Abraham T.K. and Biju C.K. (2001). Re-evaluation of the Asterinaceae. Journal of Mycopathological Research 39: 61-63. Hughes, S.J. (1952). Fungi from the Gold Coast I. Mycological Papers 48: 1-91. Kar, A.K. and Ghosh, S.N. (1986). New Asterina species from West Bengal, India. Indian Phytopathology 39: 204-220. Kirk, P.M., Cannon, P.F., David, J.C. and Stalpers, J.A. (2001). Ainsworth & Bisby s Dictionary of the Fungi. 9th edn. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon, UK. Müller, E. and von Arx, J.A. (1962). Die Gattungen der didymosporen Pyrenomyceten. Beiträge zur Kryptogammenflora der Schweiz 11: 1-922. Ouyang, Y.S., Song, B. and Hu, Y.X. (1995). Studies on the taxonomy of Asterina in China I. Acta Mycologica Sinica 14: 241-247. Ouyang, Y.S., Song, B. and Hu, Y.X. (1996). Studies on the taxonomy of Asterina in China II. Acta Mycologica Sinica 15: 86-92. Song, B. and Li, T.H. (2002). New species of the genus Asterina from China I. Mycotaxon, 84: 401-406. Song, B., Li, T.H. and Hosagoudar, V.B. (2003a). Four new Asterina species from Yunnan, China. Fungal Diversity 14: 159-166. Song, B., Li, T.H. and Shen, Y.H. (2003b). Two new Asterina species from Hainan, China. Mycotaxon, 87: 417-419. Song, B., Li, T.H. and Shen, Y.H. (2003c). Two new Meliola species from China. Fungal Diversity 12: 173-177. Sydow, H. and Sydow, P. (1911). Notes and descriptions of Philippine fungi. Leaflets of Philippine Botany 4: 1151-1156. 165

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